Accessory-holding arrangement for portable vacuum cleaners



June 28, 1966 w. c. ANDERSON 3,257,680

ACCESSORY-HOLDING ARRANGEMENT FOR PORTABLE VACUUM CLEANERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 27, 1964 I NVENTOR.

Wa/zfer l m/ersm LYWM A TTORNEY June 1966 w. c. ANDERSON ACCESSORY-HOLDING ARRANGEMENT FOR PORTABLE VACUUM CLEANERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 27, 1964 United States Patent 3,257,680 ACCESSORY-HOLDING ARRANGEMENT FOR PORTABLE VACUUM CLEANERS Walter C. Anderson, Southport, Conn., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed May 27, 1964, Ser. No. 370,462 Claims. (Cl. -323) My invention relates to portable vacuum cleaners, and more particularly to an arrangement for holding or storing accessories on the vacuum cleaner housing.

It has been found to be convenient during the use of a vacuum cleaner to have ready access to certain accessories for the cleaner, such as, an additional length of wand or a special purpose tool. The manufacturers of floor and canister-type vacuum cleaners have solved this problem by providing girdle, saddle, or box-type holders which will accommodate both tubular wand and tool accessories. However, the provision of accessory holding means on a portable vacuum cleaner presents special problems. One of the problems is that the holding means must be extremely lightweight because of the inability of a housewife to carry a heavy cleaner for long periods of time. Secondly, the holding means must be compact and unobtrusive due to the intimate association of the cleaner during use with the body of the user. Accessory holding arrangements which have worked satisfactorily on floor supported vacuum cleaners have proved wholly unsatisfactory when applied to portable cleaners because of their excessive weight and cumbersomeness. My invention provides an accessory holding arrangement for portable vacuum cleaners which will accommodate accessories of both the wand and tool types, and which also is light, compact, and unobtrusive.

It is an object of my invention to provide an accessory holding arrangement for portable vacuum cleaners which is simple in construction and easy to use.

It is another object of my invention to provide an accessory holding arrangement for a portable vacuum cleaner which is unobtrusive to the user and extremely light in Weight.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an accessory holding arrangement for a portable vacuum cleaner which will accommodate accessories of both the tubular Wand and tool types.

It is still another object of my invention to provide an accessory holding arrangement for a portable vacuum cleaner which is inexpensive and highly eflicient.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds. The features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

In carrying out the objects of my invention, in one form thereof, a pair of accessory holding clips are provided at the rear end of the cleaner housing. One clip is rotatably mounted in a recess in the cleaner handle and is designed to accommodate accessories of the tubular wand type. This clip is generally C-shaped, the outstretched arms of which are resilient and have inturned tabs at the ends thereof. The clip is rotatable to a first position in which the arms project from the recess for receiving a wand accessory. The clip may be rotated. to

3,257,689 Patented June 28, 1966 ice an alternate retracted position wherein the outside'surfaces of the arms lie flush with the cleaner handle. To mount a wand in the clip, the wand is merely snapped between the arms, being securely held by the joint effect of the inturned tabs and the inward bias of the resilient arms.

To accommodate accessories of the tool type, a second clip is provided; this clip comprises a spring finger mounted parallel with the rear wall of the cleaner housing. The clip and the rear housing wall cooperate to frictionally engage and hold an auxiliary or special purpose tool inserted therebetween. It can be thus seen that with my invention accessories of both the tubular wand and tool types can be conveniently stored on the cleaner.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the rear portion of the vacuum cleaner.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the rear of the cleaner housing, with one half of the housing'removed to show a portion of the interior structure.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the tool-holding clip with a portion of the clip mounting plate broken away.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner showing the cleaner hung on a nail or other projection, with the vacuum cleaner wand retained by one clip and. an accessory tool retained by the other clip.

Referring to the drawing, particularly FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that my accessory holding arrangement is incorporated into the rear section of a portable vacuum cleaner 1. The cleaner 1 has a housing comprising a pair of mating shell halves 2 joined by any suitable fastening means, such as, screws 3. In order to provide an accessory holding arrangement which will accommodate accessories of both the elongated tubular type, such as, a wand or hose, and also specific purpose tools, a pair of holding clips are provided.

The clip 4 for holding a wand or hose is pivotally mounted upon a pin 5 in a recess 6 in the cleaner handle 7 so as to swing into either an operative position (as shown in FIG. 1) or a retracted position (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3).

In the operative position the clip 4 utilizes resilient arms 8 reaching out from a clip base 9 and inturned tabs 10 at the ends of arms 8 to grasp and hold a wand or hose inserted between the arms.

In the retracted position the outside surfaces of the arms 8 are disposed flush with the outer surface of the handle 7. The clip 4 in this position presents no obstruction to the body of the user, and blends in attractively with the cleaner handle.

In order to effect a stable retention of the clip in the desired operative or retracted position, a detent arrangement is provided. FIG. 4 shows a detent groove 11 formed in one of the side walls of the recess 6 in the handle 7. The base 9 of the clip 4 has a pair of detent projections 12 disposed on diametrically opposite sides of the pin 5. It will be understood from FIGS. 1-4 that when the clip 4 is in either the operative or retracted position, the detent projections 12 are received within the detent groove 11 and prevent the clip 4 from rotating. As the clip 4 is pivoted from either of these stable positions, the detent projections 12 are forced out of the detent groove 11 and cause an upper portion 13 of a flange 14, extending rearwardly from the handle 7, to be resiliently deflected. Upon reaching the alternate stable position, the detent projections 12 snap again into the detent groove 11 due to the bias of upper portion 13 of the flange 14, thus serving to hold the clip securely in the new position. Thus, it is evident that the user need merely rotate the clip to the desired, position and the clip will automatically snap into place andv retain itself therein.

The flange 14 extending rearwa-rdly from the handle 7 completely circumscribes a rear wall 15 of. the cleaner housing, thus creating a depressed area at the rear of the cleaner.. 7 p I Shieldedwithin this depressed area is a tool holding of the cleaner housing. finger having an outwardly bent end portioncovered by a rubber guard 18. The end portion acts as a guide and thus facilitates placement of a tool upon the clip 16. The clip 16 is mounted upon a mounting plate 19 which in turn forms a part of a blower coupling assembly 20. The mounting plate 19 hasa mouth 21 which admits a wand when a blowing operation is desired.

The clip 16 is used with a conventional tool accessory of the type having a female coupling arrangement and transverse working portions.

tool with the edges 22 and 23 of the flange 14.

With reference to FIG 6 of the drawing, it can be appreciated that a keyhole slot.24 is provided for permitting the vacuum cleaner to be.

tained by clip 16. Y

My invention is not limited to the particular. details of the construction of the embodiment illustrated and I modifications and applications as do not part from the true spirit and scope of myinvention.

What I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1.-In a portable vacuum cleaner including a handle and ahousing rear wall, an arrangement for holding both wand and tool accessories comprising:

(a) a recess in the handle of the cleaner,

(b) a C-shaped accessory-holding mounted in said recess, said clip including resilient arms,

(c) said clip being selectively pivotable into either a retracted position within said recess, or an operative position extending from said recesswherein said resilient arms of said clip will engage and hold a tubular wand accessory inserted therebetween,

(d) a spring finger accessory holding clip,

(e) said spring finger clip being mounted adjacent the housing rear wall whereby said spring finger clip and the housing rear wall will frictionally engage and hold a portion of a vacuum cleaner tool accessory inserted therebetween.

To mount the tool upon.

hung on a nail or other clip pivotally 2. In a portable vacuum cleaner including a handle and a housing rear wall, an arrangement for holding both wand and tool accessories comprising:

(a) a recess in the handle of the cleaner,

(b) a C-shaped accesory-holding clip pivot'ally mounted in said recess, said clip including resilient arms,

(0) said clip being selectively pivotable into either a retracted position within said recess, or an operative position extending from said recess wherein said resilient arms of said clip will engage and hold a tubular wand accessory inserted therebetween,

(d) a spring finger accessory holding clip,

(e) said spring finger clip being mounted adjacent the housing rear wall whereby said spring finger clip and the housing rear wall will frictionally engage and hold a portionof a vacuum cleaner tool accessory inserted therebetween,

(f) a keyhole slot provided at the bottom of the cleaner. so that said cleaner may be hung ona nail or other projection while said C-shaped clip holds the wand of the vacuum cleaner and said spring finger accessory holding clip holds an accessory tool. 1

3. In a portable vacuum cleaner including a handle and a'housing rear .wall, an arrangement for holding both wand and tool accessories comprising:

(a) a recess in the handle of the cleaner,

(b) said recess havinga groove in a Wall thereof,

(c) a first accessory holding clippivotally mounted in said recess, said clip having extending resilient arms with inturned tabs at the ends thereof,

(d). said first clip being selectively pivotable into either a retracted position within said recess or an operative positionsextending from said recess wherein said arms and tabs will engage and hold a tubular Wand accessory inserted therebetween, I

(e) said first clip having a detentprojection received in said groove in said recess wall in said operative and retracted positions of said clip for retaining said clip, in either of said positions,

(f) a second accessory holding clip comprising a spring n. v v

(g) said second clip being mounted inspacedrelation with the housing rear wal1 whereby said second clip and the housing rear wall will frictionally engage and hold a portion of a tool accessory inserted therebetween, 1

(h) a vflange extending vrearwardly of the cleaner handle and completely circumscribing the housing rear wall for shielding said clip and for engaging the tool accessory to stabilize the retention of said tool accessory by said clip and the housing rear wall.

4. In a portable vacuum cleaner including a handle,

extending from said recess wherein said arms and tab-s will engage and hold a tubular wand inserted therebetween, (e) said clip having a detent projection received in said groove in said recess wall in said operative and accessory retracted positions of said clip for retaining said clip in either of said positions.

5. In a portable vacuum cleaner including a handle and a housing rear Wall, an accessory holding arrangement comprising:

(a) a spring finger clip,

(b) a mounting plate for the housing rear wall,

said clip disposed adjacent (c) said clip being mounted on said mounting plate in spaced, parallel relationship with the housing rear Wall,

(d) said clip and the housing rear wall functioning to frictionally engage and hold a portion of a tool accessory inserted therebetween,

(e) a flange extending rearwardly of the cleaner handle and completely circumscribing the housing rear wall for shielding said clip and for engaging the tool accessory to stabilize the retention of said tool accessory by said clip and the housing rear wall.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,869,869 8/1932 Smith 222383 2,570,346 10/1951 Hoover 15-410 X 2,941,231 6/1960 Grumbkow 15-323 2,986,765 6/1961 Ernolf et a1. 15--329 FOREIGN PATENTS 347,950 9/ 1960 Switzerland.

ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner. 

4. IN A PORTABLE VACUUM CLEANER INCLUDING A HANDLE, AN ACCESSORY-HOLDING ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING: (A) A RECESS IN THE HANDLE OF THE CLEANER, (B) SAID RECESS HAVING A GROOVE IN A WALL THEREOF, (C) AN ACCESSORY HOLDING CLIP PIVOTALLY MOUNTED IN SAID RECESS, SAID CLIP HAVING EXTENDING RESILIENT ARMS WITH INTURNED TABS AT THE ENDS THEREOF, (D) SAID CLIP BEING PIVOTABLE INTO EITHER A RETRACTED POSITION WITHIN SAID RECESS OR AN OPERATIVE POSITION EXTENDING FROM SAID RECESS WHEREIN SAID ARMS AND TABS WILL ENGAGE AND HOLD A TUBULAR WAND ACCESSORY INSERTED THEREBETWEEN, (E) SAID CLIP HAVING A DETENT PROJECTION RECEIVED IN SAID GROOVE IN SAID RECESS WALL IN SAID OPERATIVE AND RETRACTED POSITIONS OF SAID CLIP FOR RETAINING SAID CLIP IN EITHER OF SAID POSITIONS. 